Title: partnership
Rating: G
Fandom: Jack Jeanne
Relationship: Mutsumi Kai/Takashina Sarafumi
Wordcount: 700
Short summary: Fumi is on his way back from the café with a Tamasaka troupe senpai when he spies Kai with a different troupe senpai on the other side of the road. These senpai will soon find out what Fumi and Kai’s partnership really is.
“Hey isn’t that Kai? Yo, Kai!”
Fumi couldn’t help but grin. They had separate plans today – Fumi went out with Ousaka and Kai went to visit the shrine – so seeing each other right now is a total coincidence. And even before seeing, Fumi could just feel Kai. He just knew to look over.
“You can tell even from the other side of the road?” Ousaka looks shocked.
“Yeah?” Fumi shrugs. “I can’t think of anyone else with that hair and that build.”
“Really…” The two of them get closer and sure enough… “You’re right, that is Mutsumi.”
“Told ya so!”
“Hmm? What’s going on, Mutsumi?”
Kai had suddenly stopped, causing Kurota to turn around. “I think Fumi is calling out to me.”
“Takashina?” Kurota blinks. “From where?”
Kai points to the two figures coming towards them. “On the other side of the road.”
Sure enough, the characteristic blonde hair red eye combo is soon discernable. Kurota whistles. “Wow, you must have really good ears.”
“I… suppose so…”
Kai isn’t sure how to break it to Kurota, that it wasn’t because he heard Fumi’s voice, but rather he just had this feeling that Fumi called out, and instinctively he just responded…
“Hey Kai. How was your trip to Himehiko shrine?” Fumi is the one to close the distance completely, bumping Kai playfully on the arm.
Kai smiles. “Good. Bumped into Kurota-senpai there.”
“Ah. I was surprised you were with someone.” Fumi chuckles. Kai doesn’t spend as much time alone as he did in Univeil, but Fumi knows Kai needs moments to himself. But it makes sense that Kai wouldn’t rebuff a senpai joining him on the walk back.
“Did your trip with Ousaka-senpai go well?” Kai asks.
“Yeah, the café’s nice.” Fumi smiles. “Maybe I should take you there some time.”
“That sounds good.” Kai remembers how Tachibana and Orimaki would talk about how Fumi treated them to this and that. Meanwhile he and Fumi had always been equals, even if Kai hadn’t realized it until late. A café date now as a couple sounds quite nice. Even if he wouldn’t know what to order, he’s sure Fumi would find something good…
“What about me? You should treat your senpai too!” Kurota teases. “Takashina-san.”
Fumi laughs. “Hmm. What do I get in return?”
Kurota shakes his head and turns to Kai. “I lose.”
Kai raises a brow. What did that mean?
Fumi also raises a brow at that line. What did Kurota mean? Was that a sign of interest from the older man?
Ousaka laughs. “I had to bribe Takashina, you know. And our agenda was discussing how to be a ‘Jack Jeanne’ through dance. So you’ll have to think of something…” He winks at Kai. “That Mutsumi can’t already provide.”
Kurota chokes, Kai looks startled, and Fumi stifles a laugh. Oh, Ousaka definitely gets what’s going on. Everyone in the troupe knows that Fumi and Kai are partners, but not everyone understands exactly what that means…
Sorry, Kurota, Kai is…
“Sorry, Kurota-senpai.”
Kai smiles apologetically as everything comes together. He doesn’t feel jealousy; Fumi is extremely attractive. Kai expects other people to be interested in Fumi as a person or as a performer. Really, if he had realized his deep feelings for Fumi earlier, when they were paired up for so many intimate dances at Univeil, his heart might have beat out of his chest…
Kai looks over at Fumi who is smiling widely. His response to Kurota has pleased Fumi. Not that Kai was thinking of Fumi’s reaction when he spoke…
Not as a vessel, but his honest thoughts.
Ousaka nudges Kurota and the two depart. Perhaps Ousaka will console Kurota a bit. Fumi is flattered by Kurota’s attention, but whether it be as a romantic partner or a performance partner, there is only one person who has that place in Fumi’s heart.
“Should we head inside?”
“Yeah.”
Fumi takes a quick look around. Okay, so they can only walk together side by side. But once they are inside their apartment, Fumi takes Kai’s hand and brings it up to his lips.
“Your partner.”
Kai responds by pulling Fumi in close. It’s a very familiar position.
“Yes, mine. Always.”